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The Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) won the contract for the rehabilitation of the Minna - Baro rail line. CCECC provides a wide range of services for the development of civil works worldwide, including project contracting, civil engineering design, real estate development, and import and export trading services. It will involve the reconstruction of the 200-kilometre narrow standard rail line from Minna to Baro in Niger state with an extension to Baro Port. The federal government is expected to fund the project at a cost of N80.6 billion (US$192 million). The narrow-gauge rail line will be laid to allow an upgrade in the future to a standard gauge.  

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the contract award for the reconstruction of a narrow gauge rail line from Minna to Baro Port in Niger State,This will be reconstructed by The Federal Government to boost economic activities in Niger and neighboring states.

— NIGERIAN RAILWAY CORPORATION (@Official_NRC) January 21, 2022

This new line will help ease the Lagos-Abuja-Kano train journey. Fidet Okhiria, Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), met officials of the CCECC in March 2022. He said the project is estimated to be completed within 3 years and the government has vouched to ensure the availability of funds to see the project through to completion. 

“This meeting will enable us to plan our programme schedule to ensure that the contract awarded to rehabilitate the Minna-Baro rail track is carried out according to standard and completed within the stipulated three-year period”, Okhiria said.

NRC management confirmed that the railway line would cut across the seven stations of Egba, Katcha, Baro, Lafiagi, Minna, Kateregi and Badegi in Niger State. The construction firm put up a fund mobilization request and construction equipment have already been moved onto the site. The contractor has submitted draft payment guarantee to the Ministry of Finance to mobilise funds for work to start. After confirmation of the document, the company will be granted advance payment to commence work.

Photo: Abuja-Kaduna railway, also constructed by CCECC (@CCECC1 Facebook ID | China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation - CCECC)